Pavlo Khnykin

Pavlo Khnykin was the best Ukrainian sprinter of the 1990s. He made his international début at the 1991 European Championships, representing the Soviet Union. At those championships Khnykin was a member of the Soviet gold medal winning 4x100 metre freestyle relay team, his only international title. At the 1992 Olympics Khnykin was a member of the Unified Team’s 4x100 freestyle and medley relay teams and won silver in both events. He also surprised by finishing fourth in the 100 fly final at those Olympics. In 1993 Khykin won his only individual medals at major international tournaments, winning bronze in the 100 freestyle at both the European Championships and Universiade, now representing newly independent Ukraine. Khnykin, who continued to compete until the mid-2000s, represented Ukraine in every major international meet until the 2004 Olympics and, although he reached the finals almost every time, he only medaled once more at a major international meet, winning bronze in the medley relay at the 2000 European Championships. After finishing his sporting career, Khnykin worked as a swimming coach in his native Ukraine.

Personal Best: 50 m freestyle – 22.78 (1994); 100 m freestyle – 49.65 (1996); 50 m butterfly – 24.45 (2000); 100 m butterfly – 53.25 (1996).